What are the responsibilities and job description for the Sterile Processing Aide/Tech position at Mount Nittany Health?
POSITION SUMMARY
Responsible for the decontamination, preparation and distribution of sterile and non-sterile items. Ensures and maintains safety and quality in the performance of these duties.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Education:
- High school education or equivalent.
Experience:
- Previous sterile processing or surgical technology experience is preferred.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
- Must possess consistent ability to follow procedures and instructions accurately.
- Ability to effectively communicate with Medical Center personnel and physicians from many departments to fill requisitions, explain equipment operation, provide information, and request services. Works closely with other employees in the department to carry out work responsibilities. Occasionally, relates to the general public to provide supplies and information.
License/Certification/Registration:
- Employees have 18 months from date of hire/transfer to pass a nationally accredited central service exam and obtain one of the two following credentials:
- Certified registered central service technician credential CRCST or
- Certified sterile processing and distribution technician CSPDT credential
- Employees must annually complete 10 hours of continuing education. (NOTE: The continuing education required under this subsection shall be in areas related to the functions of a central service technician.)
- Employee provides proof of compliance with the continuing education requirements to Human Resources by submitting a list of completed courses.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
General supervision from Sterile Processing Manager and Supervisor.
SUPERVISION GIVEN
None
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Ensures and maintains safety and quality at all times.
- Maintains a clean, organized department.
- Cleans and checks all equipment. Sends broken or faulty items to Maintenance and Bio-Med.
- Responsible for cleaning and proper operation of five steam sterilizers including chemical and biological monitoring of all.
- Provides department with unit supply. Clean carts. Responsible for cleaning and proper operation of Sonic Cleaner and washer sanitizers.
- Reviews SDS precautions monthly.
- Checks sterilizers for bacteria growth through spore testing and clean weekly. Responsible for conducting biological, chemical, and mechanical monitoring of all sterilizers daily.
- Cleans and restocks Urology Supply Cart and Disaster Cart after each use or monthly if not used.
- Cleans shelves and cupboards in clean room and Sterile Supply work area weekly.
- Examines all supplies monthly for out dates and integrity of packaging. Repackages any items that need to be redone.
- Exchanges and re-stocks code carts, intubation box.
- Cleans and conducts monthly checks on disaster supply carts.
- Distributes wound vac/supplies when requested and calls KCI Express to make them aware of usage.
- Manages Sizewise Beds. Tags beds for each patient and does appropriate paperwork through Sizewise.
- Completes all steps in decontamination.
- Prewashes grossly contaminated items.
- Inspects racks, opens and strings instruments in trays for washer.
- Transfers items from washer to Sonic Wash to Sonic Rinse.
- Places decontaminated items from Sonic Rinse to washer/sanitizer.
- Completes all steps for total processing of sterilized items.
- Conducts inspection of all items and packings before wrapping.
- Conducts inspection of items and packings from Labor & Delivery, Operating Room, Nursing Units, Emergency Department, Ambulatory Care Unit, off-site facilities and Radiology before processing.
- Verifies all criteria are met before items are placed in sterilizer.
- Ensures all processed items provide date of processing and load information; counts each sterilized item and records on loadacator card, initials and files.
- Completes decontamination and processing of items that are not sterilized.
- Decontaminates items that do not require sterilization by following manufacturer and Infection Control’s recommendations.
- Reassembles equipment for use.
- Restocks code and Urology Supply carts, and intubations box.
- Distributes all patient charge items and equipment: sterile and non-sterile.
- Issues only properly processed items and equipment: sterile and non-sterile.
- Maintains adequate supply of sterile and non-sterile items in Sterile Processing for distribution.
- In emergency situations delivers stat items to the Main Operating Room.
- Picks case carts, when needed, for the Operating Room and Mount Nittany Surgical Center in accordance with pick lists generated by these departments.
- Assists with distribution and retrieval of case carts.
- Utilizes knowledge of computer, patient charge system, and operation of equipment.
- Maintains skills for computer charging of patient items.
- Maintains a working knowledge of the operations of all equipment and items handled in Sterile Processing in order to serve as resource to nursing staff on patient units.
- Adheres to Sterile Processing procedures for sterilized items used in case carts.
- Performs the following functions for case cart system when assigned.
- Sets up, picks and replenishes supplies for case carts for inpatient and outpatient surgery cases.
- Ensures that case carts are prepared and ready for scheduled cases in a timely manner to meet the constraints of the surgery schedule.
- Transports supplies and equipment via case carts, transfer carts, or manually to and from the user units.
- Confirms the presence of required carts in the user units and follows up on reported discrepancies.
- Assures proper charging for emergency carts.
- Operates the hand held scanning device proficiently.
NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Performs related and miscellaneous duties as assigned.
